Work-Study Benefits

Applicable to Chapters 30, 31, 32, 35, and 1606 (covered programs)

The Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) work-study program permits eligible veterans to perform services for DVA in return for a monetary allowance equal to the prevailing federal minimum wage. DVA work-study payments are non-taxable. Eligible veterans may contract for a maximum of 750 hours of service in a fiscal year. This may not exceed 250 hours in a quarter, semester, or other applicable enrollment period. Work-study services may be performed at DVA regional offices and educational institutions, DVA medical facilities, DVA national cemeteries, and certain other organizations approved for outreach activities. The services must be DVA-related.

Eligibility

The student must be attending at least 3/4 time and pursuing a program of education or training under Chapters 30, 31, 32, 35 or 1606. Whenever feasible, DVA will give priority in selection for this allowance to veterans with service-connected disabilities rated at 30% or more. DVA will consider the following additional selection criteria: (1) need of the student to augment his or her educational assistance; (2) availability to the student of transportation to the place where his or her services are to be performed; (3) motivation of the veteran; and (4) compatibility of the work assignment to the student's physical condition.

It is the student's responsibility to locate an approved Veterans Affairs work-study site.